Virtual Operator Modeling Method for Excavator Trenching

This research investigated how machine operator expertise, strategies, and decision-making can be integrated into operator models that simulate authentic human behavior in construction machine operations. Physical prototype tests of construction machines require significant time and cost. However, computer-based simulation is often limited by the fidelity in which human operators are modeled. A greater understanding of how highly skilled operators obtain high machine performance and productivity can inform machine development and advance construction automation technology. Operator interviews were conducted to build a framework of tasks, strategies, and cues commonly used while controlling an excavator through repeating work cycles. A closed loop simulation demonstrated that an operator model could simulate the trenching work cycle with multiple operator strategies, and adapt to different vehicle and work site settings. A Virtual Operator Model that captures human expert behaviors can be used to assess vehicle characteristics and efficiency, and inform the design of automation systems

Virtual Operator Models for Off-highway Machine Virtual Prototyping

Increasing demands on the world’s resources require the design of off-highway machines that provide greater functionality and productivity along with greater efficiency. Model-based or virtual design provides a means for achieving these design improvements with reduced time and costs. However, virtual design is often limited by the fidelity with which human operators are modeled. A greater understanding of how highly skilled operators obtain high machine performance and productivity can inform machine development and advance agricultural and construction machine automation technology. This research investigated how machine operator expertise, strategies, and decision-making can be integrated into operator models that simulate authentic human behavior in construction machine operations. The initial effort of this work was to develop a virtual operator model (VOM) through a combination of human factors and physical system modeling techniques. Operator interviews were conducted to build a framework of tasks, strategies, and cues commonly used while controlling an excavator through repeated work cycles. A closed loop simulation demonstrated that a VOM could simulate the trenching work cycle and enable closed-loop virtual equipment operation simulation. Advancing the state of the art in operator modeling requires models that can adapt. Approaches to enable a generic virtual operator model to adapt to changes in the environment based on the operator’s actions were investigated. The closed loop simulation performed successfully when using the VOM, the vehicle model, and an environment model which represented how the VOM adapted during a complete trenching operation

Reflection on Oral Quizzes

In this article we reflect on an instructional technique piloted in our discrete mathematics course this past semester. Motivated by a desire for students to better prepare for class and for them to receive adaptive feedback, we introduced oral quizzes as a check on preparation. We observed oral quizzes to be a good inspiration for out of class reading and practice, they forced students to practice oral and written communication of mathematics, and allowed us to tailor feedback to be appropriate for each student. We will discuss our motivation in more depth and detail oral quizzes as we implemented them. Finally we reflect on the instructional method and consider how oral quizzes can be improved and modified for other classes. We found oral quizzes to be very successful, and we believe they can be adapted to suit nearly any college math class

A Bayesian-Influence Model for Error Probability Analysis of Combine Operations in Harvesting

Harvesting is one of the most important agricultural operations because it captures the value from the entire cropping season. In modern agriculture, grain harvesting has been mechanized through the combine harvester. A combine harvester enables highly productive crop harvesting. Combine harvesting performance depends on the highly variable skill of combine operators and associated operator error. An approach was developed to analyze the risk of the combine harvesting operation as it relates to operator error. Specifically, a risk analysis model was built based on a task analysis from operator interviews and estimates of the probability of operator error. This paper employs a Bayesian approach to assess risks in combine operation. This approach applies a Bayesian Belief Network to agriculture operations, which represents a new application for this risk analysis tool. Sensitivity analysis of different errors and operator skill levels was also performed. The preliminary results indicate that a reduction of human operator action errors can substantially improve the outcomes of the human-machine interaction

Virtual Operator Modeling Approach for Construction Machinery

Greater understanding of how highly skilled operators achieve high machine performance and productivity can inform the development of automation technology for construction machinery. Current human operator models, however, have limited fidelity and may not be useful for machinery automation. In addition, while physical modeling and simulation is widely employed in product development, current operator simulation models may be a limiting factor in assessing the performance envelope of virtual prototypes. A virtual operator modelling approach for construction machinery was developed. Challenges to the development of human operator models include determining what cues and triggers human operators use, how human operators make decisions, and how to account for the diversity of human operator responses. Operator interviews were conducted to understand and build a framework of tasks, strategies, cues, and triggers that operators commonly use while controlling a machine through a repeating work cycle. In particular, a set of operation data were collected during an excavator trenching operation and were analyzed to classify tasks and strategies. A rule base was derived from interview and data analyses. Common nomenclature was defined and is explained. Standard tasks were derived from operator interviews, which led to the development of task classification rules and algorithm. Task transitions were detected with fuzzy transition detection classifiers

Motivating Class Preparation with Oral Quizzes

In this article we compare the effectiveness of oral quizzes and online homework (WebAssign) as means of preparing for class. We find that both assessment methods motivate students to prepare for a similar amount of time, but oral quizzes cause them to spend more of their time reading the textbook than does WebAssign. We found no significant difference between the performance of students using these two methods. We conclude that while oral quizzes do not dramatically increase the quantity of preparation, they seem to improve the quality. We believe that oral quizzes are a valuable technique for instructors to add to their repertoire

Testing the Prototype Spiral Magnetic Filter

o Fleenor Mfg. is a small family-owned company based in Pella, Iowa. They look for unique problems to solve in the agricultural, construction, forestry, mining, and utility vehicle markets. Fleenor Mfg. It manufactures a wide variety of filters and hydraulic components. Their customers range from individuals to large scale companies such as John Deere. o Our client has a patent-pending design for a spiral magnetic filter to filter out contaminants from various types of fluid. Fleenor Manufacturing needed data to prove the effectiveness of the filter. o Fleenor Mfg. Needed data to be able to prove to companies interested in the product that it efficiently filters contaminate particles out of hydraulic fluid. If successful, the spiral magnetic filter has the possibility to be marketed to companies to use on hydraulic equipment. o Baseline testing of the stand and testing of a standard sieve filter was completed to prepare the next team that will take over this projec

Importers Buying Preferences Towards Small to Mid-size Food Product Exporters

Importer Buying Preferences Towards Small to Mid-Size Food Product Exporters is a contract project which has extended the research focus on export market development into primary data collection (interviewing import buyers at foreign trade shows) for a specific clientele (small to mid-size food product exporters). The product and marketing attributes, which most influence buyers decisions have been identified through a survey, conducted at foreign trade shows. The project focused on food product industry buyers and will be disseminated to small to mid-size food product exporters. The results will be used to modify their product and marketing activities to more effectively enter the export market and compete successfully with larger firms. To reach the objectives, this research project surveyed foreign importers/distributors of high value food products; specifically those directly involved in the food industry. The first objective was accomplished by asking questions that identified specific product and marketing attributes that would increase the purchase of U. S. high value food products by the food sector. Importers/distributors in the food industry were asked specific questions pertaining to the importing company's size, location, and type of food products imported and the number ofinternational transactions conducted yearly. The importers/distributors were also asked the importance of price, quality, portion size, appearance, packaging, labeling, stage of preparation, financing, transportation and relationship with the seller. To obtain the second objective, the importers/distributors were asked what products they are having difficulty locating and what opportunities would be available for small to mid-sized food companies in filling the market niche. Food service importers were polled specifically about their needs related to uniquely flavored specialty food products they are unable to obtain. To reach the third objective importers/distributors were asked about their willingness or reluctance to work with small to mid-sized companies, or if they prefer to only work with large multinational corporations. Specific questions were asked to determine what importers in the food industry need from smaller firms to make them competitive when attempting to serve their industry. With this information, we determined the factors that distinguish one product or company from another and the importance of each factor to the importer. The data will be analyzed using commonly accepted statistical techniques for the analysis of survey data. One challenge to collecting this type of data was the problem of accessing the appropriate people who make the buying decisions. It is unlikely that top management in a multinational corporation could be convinced to fill out an U. S. University questionnaire. However, it is the contention ofthe project that by participating in international food trade shows there was a successful collection of information that was previously unavailable. Trade shows are a high traffic area for people who have purchasing power within their organization. Research findings indicate that one day at a trade show is the equivalent of spending a month contacting customers, scheduling appointments and making field sales calls (U.S. Department ofComrnerce). The average field call costs approximately 2 times more than one contact at a trade show. Approximately 47 percent of each trade show audience plays a major role in the decision to purchase products. Almost 30 percent of attendees are owners, partners, presidents, and general managers (Charlet, Henneberry). The cost of data collection would be substantially lower than making field calls on companies to collect the necessary data. By participating in trade shows, the project was able to collect large amounts ofdata in a relatively short amount of time. The project collected data from three different international food trade shows representing buyers from the food service industry. During the data collection phase of the project we worked closely with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to target markets with a particular interest to southern U.S. food manufacturers. The markets where data was collected were Russia, South America and the Pacific Rim. These areas were chosen because oftheir importance to the southern U. S. and the ability that. consumers within these areas have for purchasing specialty food products. The growth that these markets are experiencing is phenomenal. Table 1 shows the growth that these areas ofthe world have experienced since 1988. South America has grown by an amazing 371 .7%. These large increases in purchases make the Pacific Rim and South America good target markets. The large quantity traded with Europe makes it an attractive market to export high value food products. The data collection took place in 1996 - 1997. The interpretation and analysis was completed by August 1997. The completed research project will be submitted to economic journals and published as a research bulletin. A magazine style summary will be submitted to trade publications such as the AgExporter

Design and Manufacture of a Prototype for a Spiral Magnetic Array Filter

• Fleenor Manufacturing has a patent-pending spiral filter that uses a patented magnetic array to remove magnetic particles from hydraulic fluid • Fleenor needs experimental data to prove the effectiveness of the filter in controlled condition

Measles virus-specific CD4 T-cell activity does not correlate with protection against lung infection or viral clearance.

Acute measles in children can be prevented by immunization with the live attenuated measles vaccine virus. Although immunization is able to induce CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as neutralizing antibodies, only the latter have been correlated with protective immunity. CD8 T cells, however, have been documented to be important in viral clearance in the respiratory tract, whereas CD4 T cells have been shown to be protective in a mouse encephalitis model. In order to investigate the CD4 T-cell response in infection of the respiratory tract, we have defined a T-cell epitope in the hemagglutinin (H) protein for immunization and developed a monoclonal antibody for depletion of CD4 T cells in the cotton rat model. Although the kinetics of CD4 T-cell development correlated with clearance of virus, the depletion of CD4 T cells during the primary infection did not influence viral titers in lung tissue. Immunization with the H epitope induced a CD4 T-cell response but did not protect against infection. Immunization in the presence of maternal antibodies resulted in the development of a CD4 T-cell response which (in the absence of neutralizing antibodies) did not protect against infection. In summary, CD4 T cells do not seem to protect against infection after immunization and do not participate in clearance of virus infection from lung tissue during measles virus infection. We speculate that the major role of CD4 T cells is to control and clear virus infection from other affected organs like the brain